Yes, dash cams are legal in Alaska. However, there are specific regulations you must follow regarding their installation and use to ensure safety and compliance with state laws.
These rules mainly concern the mounting and size of the dash cam to avoid obstruction of the driver’s view and to ensure the vehicle’s safety features are not compromised.
Mounting and Size Requirements
To comply with Alaska’s regulations, dash cams must be mounted in a way that does not block the driver’s view of the road. The size of the dash cam depends on where it is installed:
Driver’s side: The device must be smaller than 5 square inches.
Passenger’s side: The device can be up to 7 square inches.
These size limits apply to the area occupied by the dash cam on the windshield, including any mounting hardware. As long as these conditions are met, dash cams can be legally used in Alaska.
Audio Recording
Alaska is generally a single-party consent state when it comes to audio recording. This means you can legally record conversations in your vehicle as long as at least one party (which can be you) consents to the recording.
However, to avoid potential privacy concerns, it’s always a good practice to inform passengers if you are recording audio in your vehicle.
Placement Recommendations
To ensure both safety and compliance, it’s recommended that the dash cam be installed in a location that does not interfere with the driver’s field of vision or with important safety features like airbags.
Many drivers opt to install their dash cams behind the rearview mirror or on the dashboard, as long as the device meets the size and obstruction requirements outlined above.
Sources:
1. https://www.expertmarket.com/dash-cams/dash-cam-laws-by-state
2. https://www.ddpai.com/blog/dash-cam-laws/
3. https://facit.ai/insights/dash-cam-laws-by-state
4. https://gpstrackit.com/blog/what-are-the-dashcam-regulations-in-each-state/
